October 18, 1999

Name:

Claudia

Age:

Two years, six months old

Gender:

Female

Breed:

Indian Ringneck Parrot

Home:

California, USA

Claudia
was born on April 16, 1997, at a breeder's house in San Jose, California,
10th offspring from an albino (white) mother and a blue father. Claudia was
removed from the nest at the age of three weeks, and I took her home at the age
of 41 days on May 26. At the time she could not yet stand straight, and had few
feathers. I completed the twice-a-day handfeeding with baby formula, and taught
her to stand on her own feet and eat a variety of foods.

Claudia is now as tame as anyone could wish for, and also very polite as she
knows to raise her right foot to ask for food, or quietly lay on her back while I
clip her claws. Claudia loves to feel part of the group, and will eat, drink,
shower and sleep along with her company.

She is now a beautiful parrot, a great companion, and I am still working on her
vocabulary (I could use some help here though!). It took me a while to find her
a suitable name, and I ended up choosing "Claudia" because of her blue eyes,
bright red beak and her habit to play with her nails and look at herself in the
mirror (she thinks she is a supermodel...). I have enclosed a picture of Claudia
below, but she also has her
own web site
on with many more pictures.